1500 TB cases recorded in Mombasa county in the first quarter of 2017

Mombasa,KENYA:The department of health in Mombasa County has recorded a total of 1500 new cases of victims suffering from tuberculosis in the first quarter of the year.

Samson Kioko, the County TB and Leprosy co-coordinator said on Friday that they have in the past two weeks started a strong sensitization campaign to kick out the malady in the county and said that they have targeted mainly the slum areas in the county.

“We have started a sensitization campaign to sweep the disease out targeting mainly the slum areas in Mombasa.” Kioko said.

However Kioko outlined that they have been facing dozens of challenges including those victims undergoing medications taking drugs as they cannot force them to complete the prescribed dosage.

“Sometimes we face challenges especially from those undergoing medication but at the same time abusing drugs. These people do not complete their doses.” The official lamented.

He pointed out that Mlaleo in Kisauni Sub- County and Port Reitz and Kalahari in Changamwe Sub-County as the areas are crowded as the mainly affected areas in Mombasa county.

“The mostly affected areas in Mombasa include Mlaleo in Kisauni and Port Reitz in Changamwe Sub-Counties.” He said.

On the other hand, Doctor Shem Pata, the Director of Health Mombasa County explained that they recorded a total of 3600 TB victims in 2016.

He said there are more than 113 public health dispensaries distributed throughout the county and urged Mombasa residents to turn out in large numbers for TB screening in all the health facilities adding that medication is free to in all public health facilities.

“I urge Mombasa residents to come out for screening in all our dispensaries in Mombasa” The official added.

He said the technology has been improved by bringing in a special machine known as a gene expert that is able to determine whether a person is suffering from a chronic TB and outlined that there are about 7 gene expert machines distributed all over the county.

“There have been an improvement in technology and of late we have brought in a special machine known as a gene expert that is able to determine whether one is suffering from chronic TB.” Shem said.

People the world over celebrated the fight against tuberculosis on Friday with year’s theme being Mulika TB Maliza TB.